Express-messenger s box



(No Model.)

T S SPIVBY EXPRESS MESSENGER'S BOX.

No. 429.657. Patented June 10, 1890,

FIG.1.

FIG-.4.

ventor UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

THOMAS S. SPIVEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

EXPRESS-MESSENGERS BOX.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 429,657, dated June 10, 1890.

Application filed March 18, 1890. Serial No. 344,400. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. SPIVEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Express-Messengers Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to those comparatively light and portable safes or boxes which are employed by express-messengers for containing money-packages and other valuables While being shipped. These boxes or safes must be sufficiently light to be readily haudled, and at the same time they must be strong enough to resist the rough usage incidental to railway and express services. To attain these resultsI make the bottom frame of such boxes of a single casting or plate having pits at its fouf' corners to receive ballcasters, upon which the safe can be moved with the utmost facility, said casting or plate being so constructed as to serve as a fender or guard that prevents said casters being injured, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the upper side of a frame embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan of the under side of said frame, the casters being omitted therefrom. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of one corner of the frame, a ball-caster being applied thereto. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the frame and a portion of the safe or box, said section being taken in the plane of a ball-caster.

A represents a frame of any suitable size, shape, and thickness of material, which frame is usually made of cast-iron, although it may be drop-forged, if desired; but in either case it should have an upturned marginal flange B, as more clearly seen in Fig. 4, the inner side of said flange being provided with a ledge or shoulder O, for the shell D of the box or safe to rest upon, which shell is secured in place by rivets, one of the latter being shown at d. The horizontal part of the frame has a rib or flange E, or a series of lugs, for the edges of the bottom plate F to rest against, which plate is secured in place by rivets f. Furthermore, this horizontal portion of the frame is provided at its corners with hemispherical sockets G, and outside of said sockets and concentric therewith are annular flanges H, one for each of said sockets or pits.

I, in Figs. 3 and 4, represents a ball-caster ofsuch a size as to turn readily within the socket G, Where it is retained by acap J, said cap beingsecured in place by rivets or screws j. By thus making the bottom frame of a single casting or forging great strength is combined with lightness and simplicity of construction, and the sockets or pits G being integral with said frame require no special fitting or attachment thereto. Therefore there is no danger of the ball-casters being dislodged by the rough usage to which expressmessengers boxes are daily subjected, and this security is-still further increased by the integral annular flanges H, which serve as guards or fenders for said casters. Consequently the box or safe may be knocked and tumbled around in every conceivable manner without injuring said casters.

' I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic bottom frame for strong boxes, safes, &c., whichv frame has a series of integral concave sockets for the reception of ball-casters, as herein described.

2. A metallic bottom frame for strong boxes, safes, &c., which frame combines a series of integral concave sockets, and integral flanges or guards surrounding said sockets, for the purpose described.

3. A metallic bottom frame for strong boxes, safes, &c., which frame combines a series of integral concave sockets G, a series of integral flanges H, surrounding said sockets, a

marginal flange B, having an inner ledge C,

and a flange E, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS S. SPIVEY.

Witnesses:

J AMES H. LAYMAN, FRANCIS M. BIDDLE. 

